[ARC5] The B-26 "Widowmaker"

[Dan Arney]

When I was flying for Frank Sinatra a plush Martin 404 for 2 1/2 years 
he sold it to Don Roberto Garcia Mora of Mexico DF who at that time was 
a member of the PRI nominating committee which made him a high mucky 
muck in Mexican politics we based the plane on the plataforma militar at 
the Mexico DF airport I met the PEMEX chief pilot who operated two 
Martin B-26 who wanted to fly the Martin 404,Well we worked out a quick 
deal to say the least. The 404 had P&W R-2800-CB-16 with water injection 
auto-feather full Reversing props and was pressurized aircraft. WE went 
for a local test flight in the 404. The next day I got to fly the B-26 
but a long way from the WWII version it was a plush conversion and had 
the same engines as the 404 minus the auto-feather as it was a STC 
Modification and did not have the higher gross TO weight of the 404. At 
a later date I got type rated in the Douglas B-26 for fire bombing. Then 
was flying an executive converted one with stock P&W R-2800.  I also 
flew the ON-MARK conversion of the Douglas B-26 with the CB-16 engines 
water injection reversing and pressurized version with tip tanks and 
coast to coast range. That was a performer from the get go.

Hank KN6DI